Senior DoH officer in Manor Park to see innovative work promoting health and wellbeing

A senior Department of Health officer visited a school to see the innovative work being done to improve the health and wellbeing of some of the borough’s youngest children.

Pauline Watts, Professional Officer for Health Visiting, spent part of the day at Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Manor Park yesterday (June 27).

She took part in a workshop with parents about how to encourage children to give up using the bottle and switch to using a cup for drinks instead. Pauline met parents and children at the Parent and Toddler Group and saw facilities which encourage active play outdoors. She also shared a healthy snack with the nursery children and spoke to parents about the nursery school’s popular recipe scheme for healthy, quick and tasty snacks.

Pauline said: “What I’ve seen at Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre is fantastic, with early education and health coming together. I’ve seen healthy children enjoying their learning – does it get any better than that?”

Dr Julian Grenier, Headteacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre, said: “Newham faces many health challenges, but the hard work of dedicated health visitors and Children’s Centre staff is really paying off. We are seeing rates of child obesity fall, and levels of immunisation are rising now. Newham’s Children’s Centres are all about working with parents to improve children’s health, happiness and learning, and we are delighted that Pauline has come to see some of this work in action.”

The visit, which was organised by Dr Grenier, was part of a week of action focusing on improving health and wellbeing.